Hosford, John, House
Why it's listed
Eight-sided houses were a short-lived building fashion, and this brick example in Monroeville, Ohio, is regarded as one of the finest in the state. Built around 1860 for John Hosford, a local merchant and manufacturer, it is a two-story octagon in the Italian Villa style, topped by a cupola with round-arched windows and wrapped by a wooden veranda on three sides. Inside, four rectangular rooms alternate with triangular spaces around a central spiral staircase that rises to the cupola, which lights the stairwell. The original woodwork survives, with different patterns in each room, and the banister is oak with walnut spindles. Some changes have been made, including a concrete porch floor, removed eave brackets and storm windows, but the basic structure is unaltered. Hosford later founded a fanning mill factory in 1870 and added churn manufacture in 1878. The house was recognized for its architecture and its unusually well preserved condition for a building of this type.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the best examples of the Octagon Mode in Ohio and probably one of the best preserved examples anywhere of a building fad that flourished from 1848 to 1860. It was built for John Hosford, a Monroeville merchant and manufacturer. The house keeps its original woodwork and basic structure.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 74001532, listed May 3, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 64 Sandusky St., Monroeville |
|---|---|
| County | Huron County |
| Listed | May 3, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001532 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (c. 1860) |
| Architectural style | Octagon Mode, Italian Villa Style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition and occupied as a private residence; some alterations are noted, including a concrete porch floor, removed brackets and storm windows. The form says it was offered for sale in 1973. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.24569, -82.69600 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 74001532.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6239937
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.